Psalms 44:17-26

17 All this has come on us, but still we have kept you in our memory; and we have not been false to your word.

18 Our hearts have not gone back, and our steps have not been turned out of your way;

19 Though you have let us be crushed in the place of jackals, though we are covered with darkest shade.

20 If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god,

21 Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart.

22 Truly, because of you we are put to death every day; we are numbered like sheep for destruction.

23 Why are you sleeping, O Lord? awake! and come to our help, do not give us up for ever.

24 Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate?

25 For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth.

26 Up! and come to our help, and give us salvation because of your mercy.

Psalms 44:17-26 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. It is not certain who was the writer of this psalm, nor when it was written, and to what time it belongs: some have thought it was composed by one of the Babylonish captivity, and that it gives an account of the church and people of God in those times; but what is said in Psalm 44:17 does not seem to agree with Daniel 9:5. It is most likely it was written by David, and to him the Targum ascribes it; though it does not respect his times; since what is said in Psalm 44:9 cannot agree with them; yet he being a prophet might, under a prophetic influence, speak of future times, and represent the church in them. Some are of opinion that he prophetically speaks of the times of the Maccabees and of Antiochus, when the church and people of God suffered much for the true religion, and abode steadfast in it; so Theodoret: but rather the whole may be applied to the times of the New Testament, since Psalm 44:22 is cited by the Apostle Paul, Romans 8:36, and is applied to his times, and as descriptive of the suffering state and condition of the church then; and which seems to be the guide and key for the opening of the whole psalm.